fresh picked whimsy

Yellow Monday on Tuesday

I'm late.  Lori hasn't gotten her the-kids-are-back-in-school groove back yet.  I'm still trying to find my rythmic balance between school, homework, creative life, book illustrating, housekeeping, carpooling etc...  I've been dying to do a Yellow Monday installment...it's been wayyyy too long since the last Yellow Monday and I just had to post these while it's still summer.  I ♥ yellow...

Mark gave me this purse for our anniversary in June. 

It reminds me of the beanbag chairs that my sisters and I used to have in the 70's...it's vinyl and yummy.  And...my secret shopper (my sister Kim) tipped Mark off to it after I drooled all over it in the clearance aisle in Target.  How much do we love Target?  and secret shopper sisters?  Double love!

Lemonheads in the kitchen canister...bright and cheery!

I found these nesting bowls at Old Time Pottery in Alabama.  Yellow+polka dots+stripes = love

We cheered on my favorite gearhead (my Dad) at our local Corvette Car Show a few weekends ago.  More about that in an upcoming blog post.  I spied this cutie from across the field.  If I drove a Corvette, it would be this color.  I mean, honestly, why can't they make mini vans in this color?  I was smitten after we got closer and saw the front license plate...the car and I will both be celebrating the same milestone birthday this year!

I have fallen in love with this print from FreyaArt's Etsy shop...so sweet!

Did anyone else spy these cool pepsi aluminum bottles this summer at Walmart?! 

I'm a Diet Coke girl, but I just had to buy this pepsi!  Here's a picture of them all...

 

My book....we took a break this summer from working on book #2 and we are now fully immersed in it.  I missed these little characters...Getting to the Heart of Respect is on the way!  Stay tuned for more details! xo

 The song "yellow" by Coldplay.  Loving it!  Listen and watch the video here.  Brilliantly simple and lovely video.

Yellow Monday, Week 17

We have had very stormy weather here for the past week.  I took these photos on Friday night when the sky was the most incredible yellow-orange color.  I know it looks like something is on fire, but it's just the sky during a major electrical storm at sunset.  I really wanted to take more pictures, but there was so much lightning that holding a metal camera up to my face was a little daunting.  I have not enhanced the color or the photos themselves in any way.  It was beautiful and eery at the same time.

 

Illustration Friday: Baby

Where did you think baby carrots came from?

{Original ink and digital illustration}

And, yes...it is Yellow Monday.  So, here are 2 photos from the gorgeous tulip tree in my front yard...  Yes, I said tulip tree.  It is the state tree of Indiana.

Red, White and Blue Monday

It is easy to lose sight of what today is all about.  It is not just a day off of work or a day off of school.  So, as we gather with friends and family for barbecues and parties, let us also take a moment to reflect and be thankful that we are free to do those things because so many gave the ultimate sacrifice for us and our freedom. 

Yellow Monday, Week 14

After K got a pair of pink converse shoes for her birthday, i remembered that i had these in my closet.  I can't believe I forgot about them.  Happy yellow Monday to me!

I got this ad in the mail last week.  Oh, Coach, why do you tease me so?  The yellow bag, the yellow polka dots...i can't handle it!  Up on the dream board, you go!  Someday...

I did get this fun new Vera Bradley backpack for Mother's Day from my parents.  I love it!  Only two weeks of school left for my kids.  Summer is in the bag!  :-)

Yellow Monday, Lucky Week 13

These are a few of my favorite yellow things:  I've never illustrated Kismet before.  Me thinks this is the start of something fun...

Two of my favorites:  garage sale-ing and this garage sale find

ok, one could argue that these pesto crostinis that K and I made last night are more green than yellow, but they were y-u-m-m-y!

A brand new box of Crayolas...makes me positively giddy. 

My new yellow hoodie that my sister found for me on the sale rack at Target.  Wearing it just puts me in a good mood.

How did this happen?

Fourteen years ago today, she came into our lives.

Life with K is fun, joyful, sweet and just lovely.

But, it goes much too quickly.  The photo above is K on her first birthday.  This was a very common expression for her.  Oh, i just want to squeeze those little chubby arms!  It seems like it was yesterday.  This little girl will start high school in the fall.  I can't believe that's possible.  The photo below is K this morning getting ready to break through her bedroom door b-day streamers (a family tradition).

And, no, i didn't forget... it is Yellow Monday.  Two photos for you today.  The first was taken last week at the ballpark:

The second photo is G working with play-doh.  He called me over to the table to show me what he made:

If you can't make it out...he used a toothpick to write "mom I love you". 

Life is good.

Yellow Monday, Week 11

What to do with those stale Peeps?...make s'mores!  Mark built a backyard fire on Saturday night for the kids to roast peeps.  The sugar carmelizes on the outside and the marshmallow gets gooey on the inside.

Oooooooh.....Ahhhhhhhh

Yellow Monday, Week 10

...tubby little cubby all stuffed with fluff...

He was my first love.  He has been with me from the beginning.  Him and a sweet stuffed cow named Elsie (who has since disintegrated and is currently, sadly, in a plastic bag).  This Pooh was my childhood bedtime companion.  He went away with me to college and has been loved on by all three of my babies.  I think he is the reason why I am drawn to softies/plushies.  Good ol' Pooh.

This is the latest WIP (work in progress - in blogland lingo). 

I drew up these patterns for sea creatures softies.  My mom is sewing them.  We are a beach-loving family...every last one of us.  It was Mom's awesome idea to make them in the first place.  We love all things nautical.  Another fun mother-daughter joint venture!  Stay tuned for the finished product! 

I listed some of my watercolor "ocean of feelings" ACEOs in my etsy shop last night.  I've got a few more to load in this morning.  I've got so many ideas in my head and not enough hours in the day!  Have a great Monday!

Yellow Monday, Week 8

It's my 50th post bloggiversary!  That's me up there, on Cloud Ten!  This is an original ACEO (stands for Art cards editions & orginals) It is a miniature piece of orginal art.  I explained all about ACEOs in yesterday's post if you want to know more about them, scroll down and check it out.

I LOVE blogging and appreciate everyone who has been visiting my blog to see what i'm up to.  I LOVE when people take the time to leave me comments.  So, to celebrate this milestone...This is the first fresh picked whimsy bloggy give-away!  To enter, all you need to do is leave me a comment on this entry by Wednesday, April 9th.  (If you don't know how:  click on the word 'comments' at the bottom of this entry.  Just enter your name, e-mail address and leave a comment!) I will draw a name from the entries and contact the winner by e-mail.  So, if you've been lurking on my blog, pipe up and let me know you're here!  I don't bite and you might win!  The winner will get this 8 x 10 ink and colored pencil original suitable for framing:

As promised, here are the first 2 creations from a collaboration between my mom and I.  This one is our very first "softie".  Her name is "mother earth".

I have fallen in love with these sweet little plush toys.  There are thousands of them on etsy and i was so inspired by them, i had to give one a try.  This is my original design and my talented mom hand sewed it! 

This next Lori & Mom collaboration is this:

I handpainted the strawberry onto the fabric and my mom sewed on the felt stem/leaves.  Then she turned it into a pillow with black fringe.  I love it.  The best part is that we made it together!  It will be in my etsy shop today.

Happy Monday and good luck!